Alabama introduced Mardi Gras to the Western world. Mobile's Fat Tuesday carnival started in 1703, 15 years before New Orleans was founded.

Alabama

Alabama introduced Mardi Gras to the Western world. Mobile's Fat Tuesday carnival started in 1703, 15 years before New Orleans was founded.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Alaska

The four-spot skimmer dragonfly is the state's official insect.

Alaska

The four-spot skimmer dragonfly is the state's official insect.

Photo: Getty Images

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Arizona

At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona.

Arizona

At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona.

Photo: CGinspiration, Getty Images

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Arkansas

The World's Championship Duck Calling Contest is held annually in Stuttgart.

Arkansas

The World's Championship Duck Calling Contest is held annually in Stuttgart.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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California

Demonstrations on making toothpaste from orange products were popular attractions at the Los Angeles County fair in 1922.

California

Demonstrations on making toothpaste from orange products were popular attractions at the Los Angeles County fair in 1922.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Colorado

In Fruita, the town folk celebrate "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" after a farmer named L.A. Olsen cut off Mike's head on Sept. 10, 1945 in anticipation of a chicken dinner. Mike lived for another four years without a head...or so the story goes.

In Hartford, you may not, under any circumstances, cross the street walking on your hands.

Connecticut

In Hartford, you may not, under any circumstances, cross the street walking on your hands.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Delaware

Horseshoe crabs can be viewed in large numbers up and down the Delaware shore in May. The crabs can endure extreme temperatures and can go without eating for over a year. They have also remained basically the same since the age of the dinosaur.

A museum in Sanibel owns 2 million shells and claims to be the world's only museum devoted to mollusks.

Florida

A museum in Sanibel owns 2 million shells and claims to be the world's only museum devoted to mollusks.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Georgia

In Gainesville, the chicken capital of the world, it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.

Georgia

In Gainesville, the chicken capital of the world, it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Hawaii

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.

Photo: CGinspiration, Getty Images

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Idaho

American Falls is unique from most communities because the entire town was moved in the mid 1920s when the original American Falls dam was created.

Idaho

American Falls is unique from most communities because the entire town was moved in the mid 1920s when the original American Falls dam was created.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Illinois

Metropolis, the home of Superman, really exists in Southern Illinois.

Illinois

Metropolis, the home of Superman, really exists in Southern Illinois.

Photo: Visual7, Getty Images

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Indiana

The first long-distance auto race in the U.S. was held May 30, 1911 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged just 75 miles per hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000.

Indiana

The first long-distance auto race in the U.S. was held May 30, 1911 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged just 75 miles per hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000.

Photo: Bkindler, Getty Images

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Iowa

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by rivers (the Missouri and Mississippi rivers).

Iowa

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by rivers (the Missouri and Mississippi rivers).

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Kansas

A hailstone weighing more than one and a half pounds once fell on Coffeyville. It is the heaviest on record, although not the largest.

Kansas

A hailstone weighing more than one and a half pounds once fell on Coffeyville. It is the heaviest on record, although not the largest.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Kentucky

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the U.S. Niagara Falls, New York is the first.

Kentucky

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the U.S. Niagara Falls, New York is the first.

Photo: Fotosearch, Getty Images

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Louisiana

In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault. Biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault. Biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Maine

As well as supplying almost all of the nation's lobster and blueberries, Maine also produces 90% of the country's tooth picks.

Maine

As well as supplying almost all of the nation's lobster and blueberries, Maine also produces 90% of the country's tooth picks.

Photo: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm, Getty Images

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Maryland

The state sport of Maryland is jousting, a competition between two armored contestants mounted on horses in which each tries to strike the other with a lance.

Maryland

The state sport of Maryland is jousting, a competition between two armored contestants mounted on horses in which each tries to strike the other with a lance.

Photo: WilliamSherman, Getty Images

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Massachusetts

The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.

Massachusetts

The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.

Photo: Classix, Getty Images

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Michigan

Vernors ginger ale was created in Detroit and became the first soda pop made in the U.S. In 1862, pharmacist James Vernor was trying to create a new beverage when he was called away to serve in the Civil War. When he returned four years later, the drink he had stored in an oak case had acquired a delicious gingery flavor.

The original name for the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig's Eye. Named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, who had led squatters to the settlement.

Minnesota

The original name for the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig's Eye. Named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, who had led squatters to the settlement.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Mississippi

The world's largest shrimp is on display at the Old Spanish Fort Museum in Pascagoula.

Mississippi

The world's largest shrimp is on display at the Old Spanish Fort Museum in Pascagoula.

Photo: Fotosearch, Getty Images

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Missouri

The first successful parachute jump to be made from a moving plane was made by Captain Berry at St. Louis in 1912.

Missouri

The first successful parachute jump to be made from a moving plane was made by Captain Berry at St. Louis in 1912.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Nebraska

Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.

Nebraska

Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Nevada

In Death Valley, the Kangaroo Rat can go its whole life without drinking a drop of liquid.

Nevada

In Death Valley, the Kangaroo Rat can go its whole life without drinking a drop of liquid.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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New Hampshire

The first potato planted in the United States was at Londonderry Common Field in 1719.

New Hampshire

The first potato planted in the United States was at Londonderry Common Field in 1719.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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New Mexico

In 1950, the little cub that was to become the National Fire Safety symbol Smokey the Bear was found trapped in a tree when his home in Lincoln National Forest was destroyed by fire. In 1963, in Smokey's honor, the New Mexican Legislature chose the black bear to the the official state animal.

Oneida has the world's smallest church with the dimension 3.5 feet x 6 feet.

New York

Oneida has the world's smallest church with the dimension 3.5 feet x 6 feet.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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New Jersey

New Jersey has a spoon museum featuring more than 5,400 spoons from every state and almost every country in the world.

New Jersey

New Jersey has a spoon museum featuring more than 5,400 spoons from every state and almost every country in the world.

Photo: Bkindler, Getty Images

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North Carolina

Krispy-Kreme Doughnut was founded in Winston-Salem

North Carolina

Krispy-Kreme Doughnut was founded in Winston-Salem

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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North Dakota

Milk is the official state beverage.

North Dakota

Milk is the official state beverage.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Ohio

Approximately 50 percent of the United States population lives within a 500 mile radius of Columbus.

Ohio

Approximately 50 percent of the United States population lives within a 500 mile radius of Columbus.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Oklahoma

Bob Dunn, a musician from Beggs was the first to record with electric guitar in the 1930s.

Oklahoma

Bob Dunn, a musician from Beggs was the first to record with electric guitar in the 1930s.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Oregon

The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for wind-surfing.

Oregon

The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for wind-surfing.

Photo: BjArn Kindler, Getty Images

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the first state of the fifty United Sates to list their website URL on a license plate.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the first state of the fifty United Sates to list their website URL on a license plate.

Photo: Visual7, Getty Images

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Rhode Island

The world's largest bug is on the roof on New England pest control in Providence. It's a big blue termite, 58 feet long and 928 times actual termite size.

Rhode Island

The world's largest bug is on the roof on New England pest control in Providence. It's a big blue termite, 58 feet long and 928 times actual termite size.

Photo: VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm, Getty Images

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South Carolina

The walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island, in Charleston Harbor, were made of spongy Palmetto logs. This was helpful in protecting the fort because the British cannonballs bounced off the logs.